Sunday, May 21, 2017

Lost In The Andamans: It’s a Jolly Buoy Fellow! (Ch 6/8)

On the penultimate day of our trip, an hour’s drive from
Port Blair took us to Wandoor, from where boats leave for the secluded and
heavily protected Jolly Buoy Island, part of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine Natural
Park.

The ferry to Jolly Buoy takes you by thick, dense
forests on beautiful islands

The forty five min boat ride to Jolly Buoy took us around virgin
islands with white sandy beaches and thick, almost Amazonian forests. Here is
when you realize how beautiful and serene the Earth is, and how much we have
abused and exploited her in the name of development!

Jolly Buoy is perfect for checking out the rich corals and marine
life in a glass bottom boat. And if you are lucky, you can even see a rare sea
cucumber, which is highly prized by poachers. Back on the island, you can enjoy
a swim in the calm and clear waters, and indulge in some snorkeling.

Plastic is prohibited on the island, so leave your
polythenes and packaged water bottles behind on the boat. Jolly Buoy has
minimal arrangements for refreshments, so best to stock up your body before
leaving the mainland.

Crab
Island on the way to Jolly Buoy

The tiny island of Jolly Buoy

Traveler Pro Tip: You need forest department permits for the island, which need to be issued from the IP&T office in Port Blair or from local tourist operators. Best to get the permit a day in advance.